Spindle positioning device



Jan. 9, 1951 G, HARDlNG 2,537,269

SPINDLE POSITIONING DEVICE Filed March 18, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l A fnl/enzor' #5: Gramf Hari/@ggg 63M, 225W, M+@

Jan. 9, 1951 G. HARDING SPINDLE POSITIONING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1948 l l l l 1 /l/ Mmmwj Il L3 Lz E L, m N ,I 2 M 6 E E xm MMGIL Z H .0., ,J4 W m I im 5 CRI-Z CRI-3 mM-A+ CRZ CRS

Patented Jan. 9, 1951 SPNDLE POSITIONING DEVICE Grant Harding, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ex- Cell-O Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 18, 1948, Serial No. 15,662

(Cl. S18-443) 8 Claims.

The present invention pertains generally to" machine tools and more specifically to a novel spindle positioning control device which is particularly Well adapted for use in boring machines of the single or multiple spindle type.

Machines of this character are customarily" used for boring operations on hollow workpieces such as cylinder blocks which have been previously formed with one or more cylinder openings therein. After the workpiece has been mounted on an appropriate work support, a

single point boring tool carried by a rotatable boring bar and spindle is moved axially through each cylinder opening in the workpiece, the aXis of each boring bar bein-g fixed and coincident with that of the particularbore operated upon.

With the above arrangement, if the boring bars be retracted from their respective bores in the workpiece, an objectionable tool drag-out groove which may be either of spiral or linear form is produced longitudinally along each finished bore. Imperfections of this nature are, of course, highly undesirable in precision boring operations.

A number of solutions have been advanced for coping with the foregoing problem, some of them involving shifting of the workpiece laterally relative to the axis of the boring spindle prior to retraction of the boring bar. It is with a novel and improved control device for facilitating such action that the present invention is particularly concerned.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide control means for moving a tool spindle into a radial position falling within a predetermined angular range prior to ei'iecting a lateral separation of the machined surface of the worl'zpiece.v

and the point of the boring tool.

Another object is to provide a device of the character set forth which will preclude retraction of the tool from the bore of the work piece until the spindle and its associated parts have assumed a desired radial position.

A further object is to provide a device of the character set forth having a novel electrical control system for correlating the angular movements of the spindle and the linear movements of the spindle carrying means.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description prounit embodying certain mechanical components of the invention, such view being taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional tudinally through the unit of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the unit of Fig. l and taken in the plane of the line Liof Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of certain illustra-tive electrical control and power circuits utilized in the practice of the invention.

Figs. 6, 'I and 8 are sequential diagrammatic views illustrating the relationship between the radial positioning of the spindle and tool point and the manipulation of the workpiece prior to retraction of the spindle.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, a preferred embodiment has been shown in the drawings and will be herein described in some detail, but it is to be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, the intention being, on the contrary to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spiirt and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more specically to Figure 1, the invention is there exemplified in connection with a horizontal boring machine having a rotatable spindle I0 carrying a boring bar l i which is provided with a laterally projecting, single point boring tool l2. The spindle Ii! is journaled in a suitable tool head i4 which receives power from a driving motor M through a belt i5. A control unit l5 is mounted upon a bracket i8 which extends outwardly from the tool head lei, the unit iii being mechanically connected to the spindle it. in the present instance the head it is rigidly fixed, in a manner not detailed, to a movable slide i9 in order to obtain relative reciprocatory movement between a work support (not shown) and said spindle in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the latter. The work support may be of vany form appropriate for holdin-g a hollow workpiece W during machining operations, provided that such support and said spindle be mounted for limited relative movement laterally of the spindle axis. Although the particular machine illustrated has only a single spindle, it is obvious that a plurality of spindles couldv be mounted side by side upon the side i9 and driven in unison from the single motor M through properly synchronized gearing, It is also clear that View taken longi- Fig. l and along relative movement between the work support and the spindle it could be obtained by mounting the latter for reciprocation in the head Id. rThe use of such an arrangement would, however, necessitate some sort of splined coupling between the spindle and the unit i5.

Turning now to Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive, it will be noted that the control unit I@ comprises a rectangular box-like housing 2S having a cam shaft 2i journaled for rotation but restrained against axial movement therein. The shaft 2l is adapted to be directly coupled in any appro: priate manner to the spindle I for rotation therewith. Located within the housing 2 6 and keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to the shaft 2| is a cam carrier 22 which has drivingly associated therewith a plurality of disc cams 2li, 25, angularly adjustable with respect to each other and to the carrier 22. In the present instance, the cams 2d and Ed are respectively arranged in axially spaced pairs, each pair behaving in' eifect,like a single cam. Adjustment of the cams 2,4', 25 may be conveniently accomplished by means of a plurality of set screws 2S which project through arcuate slots 28 in the cams. A ready expedient is thus provided for changing thel effective overall cam length of either pair of the discs 2d, 25. Furthermore, the relative phasing between the two pairs of discs may be shifted to' provide a greater or lesser amount ofy dead space between them.

Pivotally supported from a depending xed bracket 29 attached to the top 3b of the unit housing is a rockable bracket Si. The latter isw fashioned with a pair of upstanding ears 32 having suitably alined holes therein for receiving a pivot pin 3.1i carried by the bracket Securely xed to one arm ci the rockable bracket 3l and located on a line substantially parallel with the axis of the` shaft 2i are a pair oi control switches LS'Z, LS3 having respective actuating plungers 35 35.. The opposite arm of the rockable bracket 3,Ifis pivotally connected as by means ol' a link 38 to the vertically movable core 3,9 of a switch--V positioning solenoid SP. The latter, when energ'ized,v serves to rock the bracket 3l counterclockwise against the force of a torsional biasing` spring 40. so as to bring the plungers 35, 35 of the switches LSZ, LSE into the rotational paths of the cams 2li, 25. The closure of either of the switches LSZ, LS, after the boring tool I2 has fir'iishedv a cut and the spindle I@ ceased to rotate, will result in the inching or jogging of the motor M, thereby urging the spindle lil and shaft 2I toward a radial position falling within a predetermined angular range or area which may, for

, example, be as great as 9G degrees (Figs. 6 and 7).

Once the spindle and tool point have been thus positioned, the workpiece W can be moved laterally relative thereto toward the predetermined angular area to obtain the necessary clearance for free withdrawal of the tool point I2 from the bore of the workpiece (Fig. 8).

For the purpose of retaining the shaft 2l and the spindle IG in the desired radial position once it has been reached, a normally disengaged electromagnetic friction braking means is provided. This is accomplished in the present instance by meansv of an annular brake winding SB carried inanonrotatable casing il which in turn is supported from the cover 33 of the unit by means of al depending mounting plate L32. The winding SB, together with its casing il is permitted a limited. amount Qf Sliding movement along the axis of the shaft 2i and within limits determined by a shoulder screw d4. The casing is secured against rotation by means of a small loosely tting dowel or anchor pin 5 unitary with the plate d2. Fixedly attached to a shoulder at the end of the shaft ZI and retained thereon by means of a set screw iii is a face plate 48 which is adapted to be frictionally engaged bythe axn ially movable casing of the winding SB. These parts are normally maintained out of engagement due to the action of an axial compression spring 9 which is overcome when the winding SB, is energized.

Referring next to the illustrative circuit diagram of Fig. 5, it will be perceived that power is supplied to the spindle drive motor M through the lines LI, L2 and L3 which carry three-phase alternating current. The motor M can be connected to the lines LI, L2 and L3 for rotation in a forward direction by means of a forward contactor FW. Rotation of the motor in a reverse direction can be accomplished by connecting the latter to the supply lines through a reverse contactor REV. The actuating windings for these contactors as well as other control members are connected into a single phase control circuit LI-Ll which may have a lead in common with the supply circuit as shown, or alternatively might be arranged as a separate circuit operating at a stepped down voltage.

For the purpose of starting the motor M and thereby initiating a normal operating cycle, the control circuit includes a starting relay CRI which is connected in series with a manual start button S and a limit switch LSE actuated by the spindle-carrying slide IS. Sealing-in contacts CRI-I operated by the relay CR! serve to maintain the saine in an energized condition upon release of the start button S. With the relay CR! energized, a circuit is completed through the contacts CRA-2, the normally closed contacts R-I of the reverse contactor REV andthe winding of the forward` contactor FW. When the slide i9 is in itsv initial or retracted position, the switch LSI is closed and remains in this condition throughout the advancing movement of the slide, such movement corresponding to the axial advance of the boring bar il and tool point I2 `through the bore of 'the workpiece. For the. sake of reliability, it is desirable in certain instances to interpose some sort of interlock (not shown) between the slide positioning mechanism and the controls of the spindle driving motor M to prevent contact between the boring tool andV the workpiece until the drivingY motor has. been brought up to operating speed.

Provision is made for rapidly decelerati-ng the motor M and bringing the s ne toa stop at the conclusion of the advancing movement of the slide I9. rhis is achieved in part by the use of a second limit switch LSiA also actuated by the slide I5 and adapted to beV closed when the e latter has reached the end of its advance. The

. vice versa.

switches LS1 and LSiSiare so interlockeol that when the one is open the` other is closed and Consequently, the, closing of the switch LSiA results in the opening or the switch LSI, thus deenergizingr the contactor and thereby interrupting the normal supply` of power to the, motor M. Oncev its normal supply has been interrupted, the motor M can be decelering of. a control relay CH3.

Iand remains'closed-as longl asvthe motor turns. Once the vvmotor has stopped, however, the switch FW--P mechanically opens and deenergizes the contactor-EMV leaving the motor disconnected from allpower. v .f

Means is provided for automatically bringf-ing the spindle Iii (together with the boring bar II and the tool point I2) to a radial position falling -within a predetermined arcuate range,

should these parts lie outside "such range when the motor M is rst stoppedl= In furtherance of this purpose,` there is vutilized an impulse gen- "erator IG preferably offan electronic type, and which is adapted to apply to either of the contactors EFW or REV a series of timed spaced energy pulses of predetermined duration and periodicity.'A Power from the control circuit LI-L is supplied to the impulse generator IG through conductors U andl 5I, the latter of the two being connected in series with the limit v switch LSIA and normally open contacts GRZ-#2 of a relay CRE'.

The windingof the relay CR2 is so connected that it will become energized upon the closure vofthe limit switch LSIA and remain in that condition"`during the plugging of the motor M by means yor the contactor REV. Initially, this circuit is completed through'the normally operi` contacts- R-2 of the contactor REV but whenv the latter becomes deenergized as LSZ, LSB into operative 'Contact with its'associated cams. With the Vclosure of one of these switches, LSB, for example, a circuit can be corn-J pleted through the impulse generator via conductors, 5@ and the contacts R-I to the windi.ng. of theforw'ard motor contactor EW. The 'l latter, as au,cmisepluerlce,` vwould vclose momentarily a' numb-er or timesinsuccesrsiop and there-'ir ,byffinchj or...`ogwthe.driving motor'M vso as to ."rotate the spindle It .into a radial position within the'. predetermined angular range. On the other hand, the clo'sureofthe switch LS3` would achieve a similar result ,but would do so through rintermittent closure or the contactor REV which ,would jogthe motor and spindle in the opposite direction toward the desired radial position. As ,such position is reached; the engaged cams and switch plunger separate, opening the limit'switch 'L concerned and leaving the motor M and spindle IU fmotionless.

In order tovpreclude actuationv of thefriction The'preferable operating period of this relay is .something greater than theinterval between the .pulses of the impulse .generator IG. After they spindle Ill has reached its proper. radial position" andthe time interval ofv the relay TRI has `v elapsed, .thefnormally opencontacts TRI-I are .adapted'to close and thereby tocomp'lete a cir- CR3`is also arranged when energized to close contacts CRS-2 which are connected in series with the limit switch LSIA and a slide return control A'solenoid SR. The latter may, for example, be

. -CR3--I to open. rIo maintain an adequate sup- 1 ply of power to the rectier R and the brake winding SB so as to hold the spindle It securely in its predetermined radial position as the boring bar is withdrawn from the workpiece, an additional control relay CRi is employed. This relay is connected in series with the contacts CRB-I and becomes energized when such contacts close. When energized, the relay CR4 closes contacts CRll-I which serve the dual purpose of supplying power to the rectiiler R and sealing in the winding of the relay CPA so that it is unaiected by the opening o1 the relay CRS. To insure deenergizing of the relay CRi and release of the magnetic friction brake after the slide I9 has returned to its initial position, the contacts CRd-I are connected to the supply line LI in series with the normally closed contacts CRI--B of the starting relay CRI. When the latter is energized in response to the depression of the spindle start button S, the contacts CRI-3 open s: and deenergize the relay CRQ together with the rectier R and the brake winding SB.

Although the operation of the above described device will undoubtedly be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, a brief summary might be in order at this point. Assume rst that the machine is at rest with the slide I9 in a retracted position; that the limit switch LSI is closed and the switch LSIA open; and that a hollow workpiece W has been secured in place. Ii the spindle start button S should now be momentarily depressed, the relay CRE and contactor FW will bei .come energized, starting the spindle drive motor M in the manner already described. The advance of the slide I9 can then be initiated through .means such as a hydraulic control, thus moving the spindle Iii, together with the boring bar Il and the tool point I2, axially through the opening in the workpiece W. At the end of the advance stroke of the slide, the limit switch LSIA closes and, simultaneously, the limit switch LSI opens. This deenergizes the relay CRI and the brake meansl until the spindle has beenproperly positioned` radially, -a lself-resetting time delay 2' relay. TRI may be utilized to good advantage.

contactor FW, interrupting the normal supply of power to the motor M. Since the latter will continue to rotate due to inertia, the plugging switch FW-P will be closed and a circuit will be comlpleted energizing the reverse contactor REV.

This connects the motor leads in reverse across the supply lines LI, L2, L3, plugging the motor Mito a stop whereupon the switch FW-P will i open and deenergize the contactor REV. While i through the winding of the relay CRB which remains energized as long as the switch LSIA is iclosed.' This, in turn, encrgizes the impulse generator IG and the switch positioning solenoid SP .cuit through the limitswitch LSIA and .the` wind- The latter is ar' ranged to'actuate contactsCRS-I vso asto comheti'frictindbrakein' th unit4 l6`. Threly;

in the unit I 6. l

If the spindle iii the tool point l2, which of course have stopped with the motor M, occupy a radial position falling outside the predeterf mined angular range as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 6, onecf the limit switches LS2, LSB,

will vbe closed by its associated cams so as to apply a series'of pulses from the generator IG to either -ished bore (refer to Fig. 8).

position within the desired angular range, as indicated in Fig. 7. The time delay relay TRI will thereupon effect the energizing of the magnetic brake winding SB and the slide return control solenoid SR through the relays CR3 and CRA as described earlier above. Before the slide commences its return stroke for withdrawal of the boring bar and tool point from the workpiece W, the same is moved laterally with respect to the axis of the spindle and boring bar by any suitable means, thus providing the desired amount of clearance between the tool point i2 and the iin- Since the winding SB of the magnetic brake remains energized throughout the return stroke of the slide, there is .no possibility of rotation of the spindle and consequent damage to the workpiece due to accidental contact with the tool point.

In the event that the spindle and the tool point Y should happen to lie within the predetermined angular range as soon as the motor M is plugged to a stop, the device would behave in the manner set forth above except for the fact that there would be no jogging of the motor M. The time delay relay TRI would thus become eective to complete the cycle without waiting for the jogging to stop..

I claim as my invention;

l. A control device 'lorv radially positioningV a rotary machine tool spindle having :i drivingv motor, said spindle. being arranged for both reciprocating and limited transverse movement relative to a work support, said device comprising the combination of electrical contacter means for controlling said motor including plugging connections for rapidly stopping the. rotation of said motor and said spindle at a predetermined point I during' the relative reciprocating movement between said spindle and said work` support, means effective upon the stopping oi spindle rotation ior causing said contactor means toI intermittently energize said motor and thus jog said.- spindle. into a predetermined angular position, a normally disengaged electromagnetic brake adapted when engaged to preclude rotationof said spindle, and control means for engaging said' brake when said spindle has reached the predetermined angular position- 2. control device for radially positioning a rotary mn chine tool boring spindle having a driv- 1 ing motor', said spindle being arranged for advancing 'and retracti'ng reciprocating movement relative to a work support, the combination com# position. an electromagnetic brakev for precludaccidental rotation of said' spindlean actuatwinding within, said brake and adapted when energized to engage the latter, and time: responsive controlv means for energizing said winding when said spindle has reached the predetermined.

radial position.

3. In a control device for radially positioning a rotatable machine tool spindle having a driving motor,` said spindle being mounted for bodily re- V ,ciprocating movement and limited transverse movement relative to a work support, the combination comprising forward and reverse contactors for controlling said driving motor, means for producing a series of intermittent electrical power impulses, switch means automatically operable at a predetermined point in the relative reciproeating movement between said slide and said work support to cause said contactors to stop said motor and saidy spindle, additional switch means arranged upon the stopping of said spindle to connect said impulse producing means to one of said` contactors, such connection serving to jog said motor successively and thereby rotate said spindle into a predetermined radial position.

4. In a control device for radially positioning a rotatable machine tool spindle having a driving motor', said spindle being mounted for bodily reciprocating movement and limited Atransverse movement relative to a work support, the combination comprising reversible electrical controls for said driving motor, means for applying a series of intermittent power impulses to saidelectrical controls, and switch means automatically operablejat a predetermined point in the relative reciprdcating movement between said spindle and said'gwork support to stop said drive and then connect said impulse applying meansA to said electrical controls causing the latter to jog said spindle into a predetermined radial position.

5.2-Y l'n a control device for radially positioning a rotatable machine tool spindle carried by a reciprocable slide,v said spindle being mounted on saifdlslide for bodily movement therewith, the combination comprising a reversible electric drive for said spindle, and electric control means for selectively actuating said device in either directionfof spindle rotation, a limit switch operatively associated. with said control means and adapted tostop said drive automatically at a predeter- 40. mihd point in the movement of said slide, and' add' a machine tool boring spindle having a driving motor and mounted upon a movable slide for reciprocationtherewith relative to a work support, the combination of a camshaft adapted for direct mechanical connection to said spindle, cams mounted in axially spaced pairs on' said cam shaft for rotation therewith cam limit switches arranged' for bodily movement into and out of operative. engagement with respective pairs of said cams, electrical control means for the motorr of saidA spindle,Y additional limit switches operable Y at a predetermined' point inthe reciprocation of said slide andt spindle for causing said. motor' control' means to stop the rotation of said' driving motor and sai'd spindle', a positioning solenoid adapted upon the. stopping of' said spindle to bring one or said cam limit switches into engagement with. its associated cam pair, and an impulse producing device for intermittently energizing said motor" control means via either of said cam limit switches and thereby successively jogging said'. spindle driving motor soK as to position said spindle radially within a predetermined angular range defined' by the angular relationship between. said cam pairs;V

'I'. A controll device for' radially positioning a machinetool spindle having a driving, motorl and mounted for reciprocaticn. relative to a work' support, said device comprising, in combination, a cam shaft adapted for direct mechanical connec tion to said spindle, angularly adjustable cams mounted in axially spaced pairs on said cam shaft for rotation therewith, normally disengaged limit switches mounted for bodily movement into and out of operative engagement with respective pairs of said cams, electrical control means for the motor of said spindle, additional limit switches operable at a predetermined point in the relative reciprocation between the work support and said spindle for causing said electrical control means to stop the rotation of said spindle together with its driving motor, positioning means operable upon the stopping of said spindle for bringing one of said normally disengaged limit switches into engagement with its associated cam pair, and means for applying to said electrical control means via either of said normally disengaged limit switches when closed a series of timed electrical i impulses, said impulse applying means being adapted to jog the spindle driving motor successively and thus position said spindle radially within a predetermined angular range defined by the angular relationship between said cam pairs.

8. A control device for radially positioning a motor driven machine tool spindle mounted for 10 reciprocation relative to a work support, comprising, in combination, a cam shaft adapted for mechanical connection to said spindle, a plurality of angularly adjustable cams mounted on said cam shaft for rotation therewith, limit switches operatively associated with respective ones of said cams for actuation thereby, electrical control means operable at a predetermined point in the relative reciprocation between the work support and said spindle for stopping the rotation of the same together with its driving motor, and means for applying to said electrical control means via either of said limit switches a series of electrical impulses of predetermined duration and periodicity so as to jog the spindle driving motor and position said spindle radially within a predetermined angular range.

GRANT HARDING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,146 446 Schmidt et al. Feb. '7, 1939 2,170,510 Trible Aug. 22, 1939 

